Heath RUFC Halifax

Selection:

C Moore, A McFadden, O Cook, P Hampshire, F Marsden, B Stringer, H K-Payne, T Clough.

M Rowntree, C Johnson, J Haynes, B Hall, E Hinchliffe, J Morrison, D Cole.

J Pilcher, S Boussaada, E Spiers.

Scorers:

Jake Haynes, tries x 3. Fergus Marsden, try. Ben Hall, try. Ezra Hinchliffe, try. Olly Cook, try.

Chris Johnson, Convs x 6; Pen x 1. 1000+ points scored at Heath RUFC.

Scoring Timeline: Here

Report:

Heath returned to action at North Dean when they entertained Driffield. Coach Harry made changes with Pete Hampshire coming into the second row, Ben Hall at centre and Max Rowntree at scrum half. A downpour just before the start of the game made conditions heavy underfoot but with a large crowd assembled hopes were high for the undefeated run to continue.

Driffield kicked off playing towards the Stainland Road end and early exchanges saw both teams on the attack. A penalty from Chris Johnson found touch in the corner setting up a chance for Heath as Ben Stringer collected line out ball and the drive was on, heading towards the posts before Max Rowntree spun the ball back to Jake Haynes who crossed over for a try in the corner, converted by Chris Johnson, and a score of 7-0 with six minutes played.

Driffield responded, but Heath's defence was excellent and when Johnson found touch in the corner, again, Driffield were under pressure. An attempted clearance was charged down by Fergus Marsden who scored the second try, again converted by Chris Johnson, 14-0 with fifteen minutes on the clock.

An injury to Tom Clough saw Saif Boussaada enter the field as, once again, Driffield went in search of getting on the scoreboard - becoming encamped in the Heath 22. A clearance from Chris Johnson saw the ball collected by the Driffield full back who swooped through some rather inept Heath tackling to score under the posts, 14-7 with twenty-five minutes played.

Heath responded making inroads into the Driffield defence and, from a scrum, the ball was controlled before Max Rowntree released Chris Johnson. He sent out a pass to Ben Hall, who danced over the line for a third try in the corner. The conversion from Johnson was a milestone for the maestro as it was his one thousand point scored for the Club.

Jack Pilcher came on for Chris Moore as the game settled down, with both teams looking to add to their tally, but it was a touch of magic that excited the crowd as half time approached. A clearance from Driffield was collected by Chris Johnson whose pass to Jake Haynes missed out the supporting Ezra Hinchliffe. Haynes set off on a mazy run evading several tackles before a sublime back handed reverse pass to the supporting Hinchliffe saw the centre cross over for a bonus point try, converted by Johnson 28-7.

Heath were playing with confidence, but Driffield defended well and deep into injury time a clever overhead kick was chased down by the visitors who scored under the posts, 28-14 as the half time whistle sounded.

The second half began with both teams looking to add to their tally. Elliott Spiers came on for Joe Morrison after fifty minutes and, from a drive by Saif Boussaada, the Driffield defence gave away a penalty five metres from their tryline. Jack Pilcher, Fergus Marsden drove into the visitors defence before Olly Cook powered over the line for a try, converted by Johnson 35-14 with fifty-three minutes played.

Shortly after, an injury to Jack Pilcher saw Chris Moore return to the action as Heath continued to look to add to their tally and from yet another flowing move Jake Haynes was on hand to score in the corner, converted by Johnson, 42 - 14 with a quarter of the game left.

A period of even play saw the clock winding down but the game came to life again following an outrageous dummy by Chris Johnson which left the visitors defence flummoxed as he found Elliott Spiers, who set off on a mazy run before passing to the supporting Ben Hall who then found Jake Haynes, who flew in for his third try, 47-14 with five minutes left to play.

Heath went in search of adding to their tally but Driffield, to their credit, kept battling away and an intercepted pass saw them run the full length of the field to score a converted try, 47-21. Then, with the last play of the game, Chris Johnson added a penalty for a final score of 50-21.

The win maintains Heath's unbeaten record which means my lucky socks are beginning to whiff a bit; but with four games to go and two wins required the title is still to be won. Next up, is the long trip up the A1 to take on second place Alnwick who also are in fine form and last lost when they visited North Dean in November. A titanic battle is expected and as always see you there!!!!!!

Regional 1 N E Results: Here.

Regional N E Table: Here

Photos:

Andy Keighley & Garf '. There's more of Andy's photos on Heath's Facebook page.